Vendors at this year’s Wine and Dine Festival say they are expecting good business as the four-day event stays open until midnight for the first time.

The annual food and beverage extravaganza at the Central Harbourfront Event Space, featuring more than 300 booths offering delicacies from over 30 countries and regions, runs until Sunday.

For the first time in seven years, the festival also welcomes back the grand wine pavilion - a designated area for premium wines.

One of the vendors, Leo, said his company has selected wines from five famous Bordeaux wineries to feature in the pavilion.

"We haven’t predicted our sales exactly, but we are confident there will be a breakthrough. Our confidence comes from the arrangements made by the Tourism Board, with the return of the grand wine pavilion. Also, opening hours have been extended until midnight. With more time for visitors, there will be more opportunities for everyone to spend, so we’re quite confident," he said.

One returning vendor from Inner Mongolia, Liu, said his company is predicting a 30 percent increase in sales.

“The culture of Inner Mongolia is relatively new to Hong Kong but quite popular. The Wine and Dine Festival, which combines food and drinks, is a great way to promote the Inner Mongolian tradition of savoring hearty chunks of meat and bold gulps of spirits together,” he explained.

Another returning exhibitor, three-Michelin-starred chef Adam Wong, expects sales to rise by 50 percent compared to last year.

Kicking off the event, Chief Secretary Eric Chan told wine lovers to enjoy four fabulous days of festivities.

He also encouraged visitors to take some time to explore the rest of Hong Kong.

"You can discover our vibrant arts and cultural scene, explore our rich heritage, relax in our beautiful country parks, have fun at our world-class theme parks, or enjoy fantastic shopping. There is always so much more to see and do," he said.